Rev. Tillman was spiritually nourished in the New Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of the late Dr. John L. Webb, and was baptized in June of 1989.
By JAMES W. WADE III
Staff Reporter
After three long years Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland Heights has a new pastor. This past Sunday the Rev. Ezra L. Tillman Jr. a native of Detroit Michigan was installed at 5 p.m.
Pastor John DeVar Tolbert of the Peoples Missionary Baptist Church of Detroit, Michigan had the task of installing Rev. Tillman. You could feel the spirit in the church from the beginning of the service when the Praise Team started singing.
Rev. Tillman and his wife Catrina were escorted by the youth of the church. Erica Brown escorted Rev. Tillman in and Anthony Johnson Jr. escorted first lady Tillman in wearing gray. Rev. Dr. Leonard King of Cleveland presided over the service that brought hundreds from Detroit to support the Tillman family.
Greater Peace choir open up singing “I can go to God in Prayer” led by Cynthia Sharp while Naomi Rembert directed with such conviction. People’s Missionary Baptist Church from Detroit brought that true gospel flavor to Cleveland that they are known for.
Pastor Tolbert lifted the offering for Rev. Tillman and it never left the room, he handed him the basket and said “We do not need anyone to count his money.” After a great sermon by Rev. Tolbert it was time for the actual Installation Ceremony.
Rev. Frank Harris Jr. from Pine Bluff Arkansas ignited the audience with his words while presenting the Bible. Rev. Eric Barr from Ferndale Michigan presented the Hymnal before Dr. King presented a lovely Black robe trimmed in white. Rev. Jessie Barber from Detroit did the consecration prayer and first lady Tolbert prayed for first lady Tillman.
Daisy M. Jackson came up and did the presentation of Rev. Tillman to Greater Peace. Daisy talked about how he found his way to3435 Fairmount Blvd. with his GPS and how GOD sent him there.
Rev. Ivory Jones III gave the charge to the church, Rev. Dr. John Duckworth of Westfield Michigan gave the charge to the officers before Rev. Tolbert gave the charge to Rev. Tillman.
It was a great celebration. Such a service, the pastor and congregation celebrate what the Lord has done in bringing them together.
An installation service also provides an opportunity for the pastor and the congregation to clearly communicate expectations of each other and to commit to working together to meet those expectations, he said.
Though examples of pastor installation services are available from churches across the state, there is no right or wrong order of worship for such a service.
Rev. Tillman was spiritually nourished in the New Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of the late Dr. John L. Webb, and was baptized in June of 1989.
Tillman accepted the call of God into the Gospel ministry in 2002. In 2009 Rev. Tillman was asked to serve as Assistant Pastor to the Greater Middle Missionary Baptist Church where Rev. Johnson serves as the Senior Pastor.
During his tenure there over 100 souls were added to the Kingdom of God within a year.
Rev. Tillman and first lady Catrina have two sons, Ezra L. Tillman III and Micah N. Tillman.
